Russian encounter with Afghans, Pul-i-Khishty AKA Brick Bridge, The Panjdeh incident, March 30 1885
Illustration from Cassell's Century Edition History of England, pub circa 1901. Info from wiki: The Panjdeh incident of 1885 was a diplomatic crisis between Britain and Russia caused by the Russian Empire's expansion southeast toward Afghanistan and India. After nearly completing their conquest of central Asia the Russians captured an Afghan border fort. Seeing a threat to India, Britain came close to threatening war. Both sides backed down and the matter was settled by diplomacy. The effect was to stop further Russian expansion in Asia, except for the Pamirs, and to define the northwest border of Afghanistan. In February 1885 the Russians occupied a post 3 miles south of Sary Yazy. Lumsden advised the Afghans to withdraw further south. Russia next built a fort at Kazyl Tepe (‘Red Hill’) about 2 miles south of Ak Tepe and a mile south of Pul-i-Khishty (“Brick Bridge”) across the Kushk. On March 25 General Komarov arrived at Kazyl Tepe with 1500 men. Two days later they advanced, apparently trying to provoke the Afghans into firing first. On March 30, 1885 they captured Ak Tepe with a reported loss of 900 Afghans and 11 Russians.[1] The news reached England on April 7 and preparations for war were begun. On April 27 Gladstone asked the Commons for a credit of 11 million pounds ( for Sudan and the rest for Russia). The Czar suggested arbitration and negotiations, which the British accepted. The crisis was partly averted by the wisdom of the Amir of Afghanistan who was then at Rawalpindi talking to the British. Having no wish to see two foreign armies fighting in his country, when told of Panjdeh he pretended to see it as a mere border skirmish. In mid-summer Lord Salisbury replaced Gladstone, which may have made British threats more credible. By September 10 it was roughly agreed that Russia would keep Panjdeh, give up Zulfikar and that the border would be approximately where it is now.
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Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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